15 Sep 2015

The dental superintendent for Sekgoma Memorial Hospital, Mr Baratani Maja says oral diseases are preventable and emphasised the importance of oral health education.

Mr Maja was speaking at the official launch of the oral health programme by the SOS Children’s villages Botswana recently. He said the programme came at a time when the country was celebrating the oral health month under the theme , Smile for life.

Mr Maja said over the years the Ministry of Health had been running a programme called School Oral Health Programme which provided screening, oral health education and treatment to primary school children.

He said the programme was supposed to have been run every year but it was not possible due to resource constraints, adding that the project that was being launched by SOS children’s village was appropriate in that it was going to strengthen what the government has committed to do.

Mr Maja said the programme was informed by the fact that oral diseases and conditions such as dental caries, gum diseases and oral cancer are preventable, noting that the organisers deliberate decision to target children in primary schools was commendable.

He further stated that selection of schools in various villages will ensure that no child is disadvantaged by reason of geographic location. He said this was in line with the Ministry of Health’s value of equal service delivery to all.

Mr Maja said the auspicious programme once implemented will help  children to develop good oral health habits and practices. The official further urged all the implementing stakeholders to work together for desirable long term results saying the Ministry of Health through Sekgoma Memorial Hospital pledged full support of the programme.

He said three officers will be appointed to the programme in the designations of dentist, dental hygienists and dental therapist. For her part, the project coordinator, Ms Lefakae Seitshiro said the key mandate of the programme was to inculcate good oral health habits on children in the primary schools. She said they have partnered with Wrigley,  SOS Sweden, SOS Norway and Colgate South Africa in order to conduct the programme.

Ms Seitshiro said they intend to have reached out to 32 000 children at the end of the programme. A representative of Wrigley, a chewing gum manufacturing company based in South Africa, the main sponsors of the programme Ms Sophia Winstrom said their mandate was to make a difference in the world of  oral health as manifested by their production of sugar free chewing gums.

She said sponsoring oral health programmes was not a new thing to them as they have already embarked in such missions in other countries such as Sweden and Norway. She said they have realised that children are globally affected by oral conditions.

Wrigley has found it fit therefore to engage in oral health programmes to build the habit of oral care from tender age.  Ms Winstrom further stated that team Wrigley would conduct training of trainers.

Thirty trainees comprising SOS staff and some primary school teachers would be trained in the techniques of toothbrush usage and were to impart those skills to the children.

The chief education officer for Serowe region, Ms Bernadette Monageng said through the programme, students who are socially disadvantaged and cannot afford basic things such as toothbrush and toothpaste will be dignified.

Schools will report on monthly basis and assess the impact of the programme, the report will be forwarded to the sponsors, she added. ENDS